Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008
Kinzer introduces late-term abortion bill
Jack Weinstein
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ReprintRep. Lance Kinzer announced that he will introduce a bill to strengthen enforcement of the state’s late-term abortion laws.
The bipartisan bill, which the Olathe Republican said received support from several senators Thursday when he announced it at a Topeka press conference, would reduce abuses within the late-term abortion reporting system.
It includes 17 of what Kinzer calls “common-sense protective provisions.” They include requiring abortion providers to show ultrasound images to women, allowing district attorneys who suspect a crime has occurred to receive abortion reporting data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and allowing Kansas residents to bring litigation if the KDHE fails to issue the public abortion data report required by law.
“All Kansans have a right to expect that existing laws limiting late-term abortions in Kansas will be followed and enforced,” Kinzer said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we now know that all too often this is not the case.”
Kinzer said the bill is similar to a provision he proposed last year to Senate Bill 357, which required the KDHE to more specifically provide a medical diagnosis for allowing late-term abortions.
The goal of the bill is the same as the provision, but the approach is different, he said when reached by phone Thursday.
The provision was vetoed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius because of privacy concerns she had for the women who receive abortions.
There was no word Thursday what Sebelius thought of the new bill.
“Typically, the administration doesn’t weigh in on a bill until it reaches the governor’s desk,” said Nicole Corcoran, a Sebelius spokeswoman.
Kinzer said he was hopeful the bill would get to the House floor shortly and, based on the support he received at the press conference Thursday, through the Senate and eventually to Sebelius.
“We’re building a broad coalition for the bill,” he said.